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Travel Tankas


I am indebted to fellow poet, Janice Scully from Salt City Verse , who last week posted her 'Holiday Haikus.'
 Janice wrote her haiku poems to accompany three  photographs gathered from a recent holiday. Her poems were ekphrastic poems.
Janice's post sparked my thinking...

I decided to trawl through my extensive collection of travel photographs and choose three from the archives and link them to some poetry. I consciously chose a syllabic sibling of the haiku, -the tanka (5,7,5,7,7).  I have called the resultant poems- 'Travel Tankas.'

The world we wander is increasingly visual. Our smartphones make it so accessible. It is increasingly apparent that there is an interconnectedness between photography and writing. We can use the photographic image to enhance our writing experiences. It makes sense to bring these two dynamic crafts together. 

Photographs don't over-ride my need for words, they enhance it...

So thank you again, Janice, your post helped launch a most engaging poetry project.

Here are my 'Travel Tanka' poems from locations as diverse  as- Veracruz (Mexico), Bali (Indonesia), and Sapa (Vietnam).
 










It is once again, Poetry Friday. This week our host is Carol Labuzzetta  .
Carol's  post shares a range of things -Bat Poems, A Milestone Birthday, and a final call for 'Ekphrastic Nature Poetry submissions.' Check out Carol's page...



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Comments

  1. Tracey Kiff-Judson28 October 2023 at 01:27

    Wow, Alan! Every photo, every tanka, fascinating! They make me want to study them to extract every detail to attempt to decipher these remarkable situations.

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    1. Alan j Wright28 October 2023 at 14:53

      Thank you Tracey. Photogrpahic images can be like that- arousing curiosity regarding the broader story.

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  2. jlcjbuzz28 October 2023 at 02:20

    Thanks for sharing these ekphrastic tankas Alan! As you can probably guess, I am also enralled with poetry and photography as creative partners from my current anthology project dealing with the same. I wholeheartedly agree with your line - "Photographs don't over-ride my need for words, they enhance it..." I was a photographer well before I became a writer but the photos can only enhance the words. On another note, I started an Acrostic Tour of Europe from my recent travels there - much simplier than a tanka but satisfiying none-the-less. My posts of the last two weeks showcase some of those.

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    1. Alan j Wright28 October 2023 at 14:56

      My pleasure Carol. We are singing from the same song book. Your European tour highlights the range of poetic options we have to call upon when linking images and words.

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  3. Patricia Franz28 October 2023 at 03:43

    I've enjoyed creating a summer-ful of ekphrastic poetry. It made me more conscious of my poetry-writing process. I am a visual interpreter of my world. Often I write poetry first, then go in search of a photo in my archives that might be able to contain the emotions in my words. But when I write ekphrastic poetry, I let the image take the lead; so the process is reversed. Thanks for sharing your tankas, Alan. I would've loved to capture that little singer in green.

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    1. Alan j Wright28 October 2023 at 14:59

      I agreee with you Patricia. When we write we view the world like we oursleves are cameras capturing moments in time. Your process for linking poetry and images is similar to my own. The young girl in Sapa was indeed a special moment. My wife was in tears.

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  4. Mary Lee28 October 2023 at 21:42

    I love your tankas, but I'm totally wowed by the sights you've seen, the moments you've captured!

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    1. Alan j Wright29 October 2023 at 13:11

      Thank you Mary Lee. I have been a fortunate traveller and a keen photographer throughout those experiences. I have always believed that photography enhances the writer's eye for detail and difference.

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  5. Linda B28 October 2023 at 23:30

    Thanks for taking us along on your journeys, Alan, a peek into the scenes of other places. I loved the 'overloaded, he thinks not'! Each one is a gift for you and now for us!

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    1. Alan j Wright29 October 2023 at 13:13

      My pleasure, Linda. I agree with you about these images being gifts. The stories surrounding them are rich and to be able to employ poetry to convey a little of those stories is such a bonus.

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  6. Denise Krebs29 October 2023 at 02:56

    Alan, what joy to see part of your trip with people as the center of your photos. I love the idea of travel tankas, and I'm going to tuck that idea away. It is so true what you say about the interconnectedness of photography and writing. That sweet girl singing is heavenly.

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    1. Alan j Wright29 October 2023 at 13:16

      People watching is always fascinating, Denise. Whenever I travel, it never ceases to reveal special moments. I'm glad you have found something here, you might be able to use going forward.

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  7. Anonymous29 October 2023 at 03:05

    This is Janice, Alan, and thank you for mentioning me in your post. Your photos are exquisite. My favorite is the recycler and his gathered bounty. I love how poetry adds to your photographic image of a place.

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    1. Alan j Wright29 October 2023 at 13:18

      My pleasure, Janice. You sparked my interest with your holiday haiku. It became irressistible.

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  8. Linda29 October 2023 at 04:53

    I love the tanka form, and you did a wonderful job with it! All three are amazing with my favorite being "Morning Song". The photo and poem are perfectly paired!

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    1. Alan j Wright29 October 2023 at 13:19

      Thanks, Linda. That morning moment in Sapa was something to be treasured.

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  9. laurasalas30 October 2023 at 00:06

    I love these, Alan, and how they capture a place and a moment so specifically! That clown in Veracruz...I love how in two of them, you name the specific city or region. That grounds me even more.

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    1. Alan j Wright3 November 2023 at 10:52

      Thanks Laura. Naming the location does indeed centres our awareness and understanding.

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  10. Anonymous31 October 2023 at 00:45

    Fabulous photos and tankas, Alan. How lucky for you to have experienced these events and now to write of them. Wow...

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    1. Alan j Wright3 November 2023 at 10:54

      I am indeed fortunate to have had these wonderful opportunities.

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  11. Anonymous31 October 2023 at 16:23

    Love your "Daily planet recycler"–what a feat, and all here, thanks Alan! From Michelle Kogan

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    1. Alan j Wright3 November 2023 at 10:55

      Michelle, that man in Bali was quite inspiring.

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  12. Carol Varsalona3 November 2023 at 06:56

    I also love the "Daily planet recycler", Alan but the little girl is precious. Thanks for a look at your tanka Ekpharastic poems. I created a few fun poems for Halloween besides the post I designed for PF.

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    1. Alan j Wright3 November 2023 at 10:57

      Thank you Carol. Much appreciated. Life events and celebrations provide great fodder for we poets.

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